Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a historic visit to war-torn South Lebanon yesterday under the watchful eye of the elite Army Ranger Wing.

His every move was monitored by a highly trained team of Ireland’s toughest soldiers.

Dressed in suits and shades the rarely-seen Rangers looked like our very own Men-In-Black as they surveyed the dangerous terrain.

It is only the second time a sitting Taoiseach has visited Irish troops in the region where they first began serving on UN Peacekeeping missions in 1978.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, a military source said: “We would never take any chance with the Taoiseach’s security when he is abroad in such a dangerous conflict zone.”

The Taoiseach arrived by helicopter to the base near Bint Jbeil at 11.30am yesterday after flying into Beirut on Sunday evening.

He was accompanied on the visit by Army Chief of Staff Conor O’Boyle and Minister Paul Kehoe.

Members of the ARW were also on the helicopter and shadowed him throughout.

The group were greeted at the landing spot by Lt Col Kevin Campion – head of the 45th infantry battalion – before being driven into the camp where a guard of honour was led by Lt Niall Dolan.

There are currently 181 troops serving in the camp as part of the FinnIrish Battalion.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with a Mayo GAA jersey which he signed and was presented with at the canteen in UN Post 2-45

And more than 50 of these brave soldiers were introduced to Mr Kenny at the canteen a short time later.

Addressing the group he said: “On behalf of the people of our country and your families I came out here today to pay respect to you for what you do and the challenges and the sensitivities you must put up with in this region here in South Lebanon.

“We have great faith in your in your ability to understand these things and do your job as professional members of the defence forces of our country as part of the UNFIL operation. I want you to know that and understand that.

“We are very proud of what you do.”

He was then presented with an inscribed cedar tree by camp chief Lt Col Kevin Campion and there was a cheer when Trooper David O’Shea asked Mr Kenny to sign a Mayo jersey for their wall.

The GAA kit will now be hung alongside an Irish jersey signed by Damien Duff in 2012.

In the afternoon the Taoiseach made the poignant trip to Tibnin and the memorial to the 47 Irish soldiers killed in the region between 1978 and 2000.

The town previously hosted the Irish troops in a site popularly known as Camp Shamrock.

They have since moved further south to a site near Bint Jbeil.

To the sounds of a lone bagpiper Mr Kenny made the short trip up to the monument where the names of all 47 soldiers were called out by Captain Glen Harmon.

He laid a wreath at the monument before bowing his head for a minute’s silence.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror afterwards the Taoiseach said he was moved by the scene.

He added: “When the minute’s silence is called for and the people stand with heads bowed, you can actually hear the silence in the cypress trees, it is an evocative moment in many ways.

“You hear the roll call of names and the years in which they lost their lives.

“So it is a case of nostalgia, with a sense of loss, but also I have to say with a sense of pride in the competence of what they did in their chosen career, serving with the Irish Defence Forces as part of UNIFIL here in south Lebanon and gave their lives for that cause.”

But while things are relatively calm in South Lebanon at the moment, just 50km away at the Golan Heights in Syria Irish soldiers are coming under regular fire.

Some 130 Irish troops are serving in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force here and Mr Kenny said he has no intention of withdrawing them.

He added: “This is a very sensitive area in the Golan Heights but I have to say that since the Irish return to the Golan there is a great deal of integrity and credibility restored because of their competence and professionalism.

“Careers in areas like this are always ones that require absolute vigilance.

“And I can testify and confirm that insofar as is humanly possible the Irish Members of the Defence Forces in Golan tend to do that from a safety perspective and also for fulfilling the job that they have undertaken.”